Fabric clamp



June 30, 1925. 1,5441336 E. MYERS FABRIC CLAMP Filed April 15, 1924lllllll Ill .gy #MID A/m M 4m; raw

ATTORNEYb',

Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES I 1,544,321; PATENT OFFICE.

ELEAZAR MYERS, or -LEONIA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR To THE COLUMBIA MILLS,

INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FABRIC CLAMP.

Application filed April 15, 1924:. Serial No. 706,659.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELEAZAR MYERS, a citizenof the United States, residing at Leonia, in the county of Bergen andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fabric Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a clamping device primarily intended for clampingfabrics, such as fabrics out of which curtains are made, while size,varnish, paint or other coating material is applied thereto. Theclamping device, however, is of course, adapted for other uses.

The clamp comprises essentially a channeled member, an elongatedclamping strip and a manually operated device for forcing the clampingstrip to a position to clamp the fabric in the channeled member.

One of the important features of the invention is the fact that theelongated clamping strip is quite separate from and not se cured to thecam or other eccentric means that is used to force the strip to clampingposition.

This freedom of the clamping strip from the eccentric presents severaladvantages: the clamping strip may be very readily removed and soaked ina cleansing solution. Remembering that the strip is liable to bespattered with paint, varnish or size, this is a valuable feature.

Again, if one of these clamping strips is bent, or becomes rusted orotherwise unsuitable for use, it can be immediately replaced without thenecessity of dismounting the same.

Still another advantage of this free clamping strip is that it may bereversed or turned over, a feature which isparticularly valuable inconnection with a strip which may be made thinner along one longitudinaledge than along the other. With such a clamping strip of variablethickness, a variable clamping action between the clamping strip and thechannel member is obtained,

which is particularly useful for clamping fabrics of differentthickness.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ing device;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

of the clamp- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing theparts justbefore they are in clamping position;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the eccentric or cam showing a slightmodification, and

Figs. 5 and 6 show two modifications of the clamping strip.

Referring now to these drawings, on the base 1, preferably of wood, ismounted the channeled member 2, being secured to the base in anysuitable manner. Channeled member 2 is preferably made of metal, such assheet iron. i

The clamping strip '3 is an elongated piece or strip of narrow, flatmaterial, preferably iron. It is forced to clamping position by a cam oreccentric 4 pivoted on the bolt 5 and provided with an operating handle6. The lower edge of the eccentric is of varyng radius and is providedwith a stepped portion 7 backed by a flange 8 which stepped portionbears against the top edge of the clamping strip to force it downwardlyand laterally to clamping position. The eccentric bears against thestrip 3 to a point substantially directly below the pivot 5, so thatthere is no tendency of the eccentric to be comereleased after it is inclamping posit-iOIl. r As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the fabric F isclamped in the channeled member 2 by the strip 3. I

In the modificationshown in Fig. 4, the lower edge of the eccentric maybe grooved as indicated at 10, the side walls of the groove straddlingthe upper edge of the clamping strip 3. v Y

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the clamping strip 8 where onelongitudinal edge 3 is thinner than the other longitudinal edge 3", forgiving a variable clamping action. The thinner or thicker edge is chosenfor the lower edge of the clamping strip, according as thick or thinfabr'c is being clamped. r

Fig. 6 shows another modificationof the clamping strip 3 wherein anarcuate depression 3 is provided in one edge of the clamps ing strip, inwhich depression the edge of the eccentric 4 is adapted to seat.

In addition to the reversibility of the clamping strips, their ease ofcleansing and replacement, and their variable thickness for clampingthin or thick material, another very important advantage is obtained byV i this invention, namely a decreased cost of replacement of theclamping strlps due to their simple design.

7 These clamps are used in great quantities in coatingfabricmateriah'being used not only for holding the strips of fabric attheir upper ends, but also to clamp the fabric along the bottom edges toWeight it down and keep it smooth and" taut.- Since the coated'tabrictakes some time to dry, and it hastoremain in the clamps until dry, itmeans that these clamps must be used in great numbers, and therefore, itis very important from a commerc al po nt OfVII-BW to kQBPjllB' cost ofsuch clamps at a minimum.

For example, to illustrate howinany of these clamps are required, it maybe stated that it takes forty-live hundred clamps, each two feet long,to handle the cloth necessary for a' gangot three men.

o This clamp can be used for clampinglany strip or sheet material and isnot limited V the combination of a base, a channeled mem-- ways, asfalling pended claims. I

tofabric. The term ffabric. as-fused in the.

I' claim as my invention f V 1; i In a dqn icev of the characterdescribed, the combinationefa base, a channeledmem: ber mounted thereon,a clamping strip for clamping fabric in the channeled member,andeccentric means movable about an axis substantially perpendicular tothe base and unattached to, the clamping strip for forcing,

clamping strip it to clamping position, thebeing efreel y removable. v vv 2. In a device of the character described,

ber mounted thereon, an elongatedcl ainping strip which varies inthickness fron 'one the combination of abase, a channeled mem ivlongitudinal edge to the other for clamping fabric in thechanneledmember, and eccentric means pivoted on an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the base, for forcing the clamping strip to clampingposition.

3. In a device o-f-the character described,

her mounted thereon, an elongated andre versible clamping strip which'varies; in thickness from one longitudinal edge to the otherforclampingfabric' in the channeled t a 5,. In a device of thefcharacterdescribed;

member, and means for forcing the clamping strip to clamping position.

4'. In a device of the character described, thecombinationof a base,aachanneled Inember mountedfthe'reon, an elongated and reversible.clamping strip Which varies in thickness from one longitudinal edge tothe other-for clampingfabric in the channeled member, and eccentricmeans pivoted on an axis perpendicularto tlhe'basefor forcing amping.strip to clamping position.

the. 'combination of a base, a channeled memstrip for clamping,fabri'cfin the channeled member, and ag TOQVBQ eccentric pivoted on an.axis substantially perpendicular to p the base-for straddling an edgeotjthe clamping I strip and foroing it to clampingposition.

'be'r mounted thereoman elongated clamping I V ,6. In a device of thecharacter'described, I

the combinationof a base, a channeled member mounted thereon,an-elongated: and reversible-clampmg strip for clamp ng fabricin thechanneled member, andla grooved eccentric for straddling an edg'eottheclamp;

ing strip and forcing itto clamping position.

7.1.111 a device of the, character described,

the combination of a base, a channele'd member mounted thereoman'elongated and-ref thickness'from one longitudinal edge, to the otherfor clamping fabric inthe channeled vmember, and a grooved eccentric forstraddling edge of the clamping stri pd foming t o, mping position.

versible clamping strip which varies v in 18. In a device of thecharacterdeslcribed,

the ,combinationofa base, a straightfelon gated J shaped channeledmember mounted thereomwith its wide side againsttlhe base,

straight elongated clamping strip for clamping a strip of material inthe channeled member, and eccentric means, pivoted on an axisperpendlcular to the base, and unattached to the clampingjstrip, forforcing" it to clamping position.

9. In a device ofthecharacter described, the combination of a fiatbase'member, a

long, straight troughlike channeled member secured to the base, a longsubstantially flat clamping strip adapted tofit into the trough of thechanneled memb r and clamp a'fabric there n, and eccentric means pivotedon the b se on an axis perpendicular thereto 'for forcing the"clampingstripto clamping position. V v p V In testimony whereof lafii mysignature.

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